Frank Guinta must repay more than $300,000 in campaign donations he took from his parents, plus a $15,000 fine

Published at 10:55 AM EDT on May 13, 2015

Receive the latest politics updates in your inbox

The Federal Elections Commission says U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta illegally accepted more than $300,000 in campaign donations from his parents in 2010.

Questions over Guinta's finances arose in 2010, the year the New Hampshire Republican was first elected to Congress. He was defeated in 2012, but reclaimed the seat in November.

Over the years, Guinta flatly denied the money came from his parents and said he and his wife saved it working in the private sector. But in an agreement reached this week, the FEC says the money came from his parents' bank accounts.

Guinta, who must repay the money plus a $15,000 fine, says he had an equitable interest in the accounts and that he agreed to the settlement to "end the distractions."